General Atomics Advanced Cockpit Ground Control Station

 

General Atomics Advanced Cockpit Ground Control Station

by

Stanley D. Pebsworth

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

May 2016

A Research Project Submitted to the Worldwide Campus in partial fulfillment of the requirements for course UNSY 605, Unmanned Systems Sensing, Perception, and Processing

General Atomics Advanced Cockpit Ground Control Station

            General Atomics Advanced Cockpit Ground Control Station (GCS) is designed for use with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and offers the pilot significantly improved situational awareness and a reduced pilot workload.  The pilot centered display offers improved synthetic 3D video and moving maps via a 270^o wrap around field of view via multiple screens.  The enhanced situational awareness comes from a fused data link through Link 16 and Blue Force Tracking into a Common Operating Picture.  This data link integration offers collision avoidance, terrain avoidance, and special use overlays.  This GCS offers a truly ergonomic design that improves pilot comfort and increases efficiency with intuitive controls and displays (General Atomics, 2015).

            This GCS has been validated by the US Air Force and the National Institute for Aviation Research.  This GCS also complies with MIL-STD-1472 and uses the STANAG 4586 architecture which facilitates interoperability with various remotely piloted systems (General Atomics, 2015).  On November 15, 2012, General Atomics flight tested the Advanced Cockpit GCS by successfully flying a Predator C Avenger UAS.  This test was conducted to show that the wrap around ergonomic design enhances safety and improves pilot reaction time and decision making allowing the pilot to effectively and efficiently accomplish the mission (UAS Vision, 2013).

            The General Atomics Advanced Cockpit GCS uses Real-Time Innovations (RTI) middleware (RTI, 2007).

            RTI middleware is part of the software communications architecture that GA-ASI has implemented for its Advanced Cockpit GCS. The GCS makes use of RTI's publish-subscribe communications model, which allows any system component to subscribe to the incoming aircraft telemetry stream for such parameters as latitude and longitude, pitch, roll, and airspeed parameters (RTI, 2007).

RTI develops and integrates software for real time applications.  They are the experts in coupling communications with the highest performance middleware technology.  RTI technology has been used in industries such as defense, intelligence, simulation, transportation, and communications.  RTI is a privately held company in Santa Clara California and was founded in 1991 (RTI, 2007).

            Current issues and challenges faced by UAS operators is the loss of fidelity when operating a remotely piloted aircraft.  Without force feedback in the controls, and multi-sensory perception, it is difficult for the pilot to sense the remote aircrafts performance.  Future technology developed by General Atomics should include a higher level of fidelity, much like an actual aircraft simulator, to further improve the pilot’s situational awareness.  This increase in fidelity will certainly improve safety and enhance the ability of the pilot to complete their mission.

           

References

General Atomics. (2015). Advanced cockpit GCS. Retrieved from http://www.ga-asi. com/ Websites/gaasi/images/products/ground_control/pdf/AdvCockpit021915.pdf 
RTI. (2007). RTI Middleware Powers New General Atomics Aeronautical Systems UAS Ground-Control Station. Retrieved from https://www.rti.com/company/news/GeneralAtomics .html

UAS Vision. (2013). General Atomics Next-Generation GCS Successfully Integrates Flagship and Advanced Predator Platforms. Retrieved from http://www.uasvision.com/2013 /04/25/general-atomics-next-generation-gcs-successfully-integrates-flagship-and-advanced-predator-platforms/